My husband and I just returned from a two-night stay at the lodge. The facility was very clean and very quiet -- despite the number of wound-up, happy children staying there. We never heard a peep once we were in the room...and we were about five rooms down the hall from the gift shop.
This place is a bit out of the way, not particularly hard to find but expect at least a 30 minute drive to restaurants and other facilities. The buffet on-site was fine and reasonably priced (I think it was $10.95 for dinner), but it is a buffet. Some things got dried out under the heat lamps.
The service was excellent at the restaurant. The front desk staff were a little slow in checking in people but that could have been a computer problem or something complicated with the group ahead of us. Not a major complaint.
The restaurant, lobby, and rooms face the mountains -- quite a view as the place is on the ridge. An outdoor patio has chairs to enjoy the sunset.
The rooms are in need of a facelift in some areas. The beds are very comfortable and the linens seemed fairly new, but some of the wood furniture was scratched, the wallpaper was stained and starting to peel in places around the sink, and the plumbing is functioning but definitely has some age on it. The operable windows worked once (they got stuck open in the middle of the night, of course). Hopefully the Georgia Park Service will get the funding they need to do some sprucing up. For us it wasn't a big deal as long as it was clean, which it definitely was.
We really could have used a room safe. We were provided with a free paper every day and in-room coffee maker.
Warning in case you want to book a cabin: the cabins labeled "at the base of the falls" means across the main access road from the visitor's center. This is a very busy place and a far cry from a "wilderness experience". There is a nice looking playground next to the visitor's station, though, so they are not all bad for familes with kids. The upper cabins look very nice from the outside (they are in the woods), and we will try to stay there next time as we both enjoy cooking.

Hubby and I spent three nights at the lodge this past week. We were in a jr. suite, with sitting room and a lovely balcony. We watched the sunset over the mountains in the evening from our balcony. The tree outside our window came equipped with a mama robin and her nest of eggs. How considerate! ; )

The staff was friendly and helpful. For a state-run lodge, this one seems to be above the norm. Clean, spacious, and beautiful. Dawsonville Premium Outlets just 18 miles down the mountain, too.

Only negatives: weak WiFi and reheated buffet in the restaurant. HINT: Head to Blue Ridge and try the Great Eats deli! Super food!

Enjoy!

We were in town for a wedding a needed a place close to the ceremony.
The State Park is breath taking and the Lodge is located at the top of the hill, looking out over the park. We stayed in the spring, but I bet a late fall stay would be pretty, with all the fall leaves!
We stayed in a Loft room, which had a full bath, queen size bed and a full size bed up in the loft. Plenty of room.
The Lodge was super clean and decorated like a typical lodge.
Every room looks out over the valley!!
If you manage to stay at the Lodge you can't leave without walking to the FALLS! The view from the top is amazing. We walked down the 400+ steps and enjoyed every step down. Walking back up was a workout, but it was worth the trip!

Okay, here is the 411 for this park...Amicalola Falls (the actual waterfall) is great, I loved it, however there were a few problems we had while we stayed at the park. We stayed on campsite #4 March 24-March 29, 2008 and set up an 8 (just 2 of us but we loved the extra room) person tent with a screen in porch area. The first night we were there, racoons opened the latches on our coolers and tore into about 1/2 of our food supply. I didn't realize what happened until the following morning when I saw Doritoes chips crumbs on top of the cooler and on the ground. I opened the latch to see that raccoons had opened up the cooler and eaten some of the food we had. We had problems with them several nights so I kept the food in my truck toolbox for the rest of the week.

*KEEP YOUR FOOD EITHER IN YOUR TENT, IN YOUR VEHICLE, OR DUCT TAPE THE COOLERS SHUT*

The second problem we had was with a family that brought a chihuahua along for the trip and decided to camp beside us at campsite #3. The left the chihuahua tied to the railing for 2 hours while it was raining and the dog WOULD NOT SHUTUP! I called the lodge and told them the situation and they promised to have someone come immediately. After 2 more phone calls and an hour later, the park manager came out and took some notes and that was about it. Luckily the family arrived shortly after and the dog stopped barking.

The park is 18 miles from Dahlonega, GA, where they have a Taco Bell, Chick Fil A, and a Super Walmart. We enjoyed going to Consolidated Mining Company (beside Walmart), where we panned for precious gems and even gold. Prices range (We did a 3 gallon gem bucket for $30 and a 1 gallon gold bucket for $26). It was me and my fiance' who went on the trip and the mining lasted about an hour for each activity. The Dahlonega square is also a good place to go shop. One store is a Vera Bradley retailer and my fiance' loved that. Also, do not eat at the small mexican restaurant near North Georgia College and State University (just down the street from the Dahlonega Square). The food was AWFUL. A regular Taco tasted like pizza and it made us both sick afterwards.

Dawsonville is 13 miles in the opposite direction with a Super Walmart and an outlet mall that has stores such as Nike, Polo, Lucky, Burberry, Big Dogs, Nautica, etc. A good place to go for the afternoon.

If you do decided to go gold mining and gem mining, my advice would be to stay away from Crisson Gold Mining in Dahlonega. Two words: RIP OFF!!! We decided to do the gem mining in a 5 gallon bucket for $12 and we walked away with small rocks and could not tell what they were. If you go, stick to Consolidated. They are nice, friendly, and knowledgeable.

Let's see what else, be prepared for winding roads! Even though the sign says 13 or 18 miles, it may take you 45 or more because of the steep hills and winding roads. The closest gas station to the park is in Dawsonville and is at least 10 miles away. Nothing closer. We got gas there today, I believe it was a Chevron for $3.15. We got ourselves a little lost outside of Ellijay one afternoon and as we were entering Dahlonega from the opposite end of town, we were forced to buy gas for $3.70 at a small mountain store. Look for gas prices!

Overall, we had a decent trip. I'd rate it 2 out of 5 stars. Besides the raccoon problems and cold-rainy weather, it was an acceptable trip for two 20 year olds camping at this park from south Georgia.

I have attached pictures below to show you the paw prints and mud stains from where raccoons tore open the ice chest and walked all over it. They even climbed into the back of my truck and tried to force open another cooler. Se pictures and DUCT TAPE your coolers as I have done!!!

You may contact me at marshall.hooks@hotmail.com if you have any questions or want advice. Thanks!